Prize Recipient

Gerald Gabrielse
Harvard University

Citation:

"For novel methods that enable measurement of the electron magnetic moment and fine structure constant to unprecedented precision, and for exceptional skill in sharing the science with diverse audiences."

Background:

Gerald Gabrielse, the Leverett Professor of Physics at Harvard, chaired its physics department from 2000-2003. His Ph.D. from the University of Chicago (1980) followed a B.S. from Calvin College (1973). The first of four research programs employs a one-electron quantum cyclotron to measure the electron and positron magnetic moments, deduce the fine structure constant, and test the standard model and QED. His antimatter research program compared the antiproton and proton magnetic moments, and developed methods now making possible the work of four international collaborations at a dedicated CERN storage ring, including the ATRAP antihydrogen team he leads. A third program is progressing toward a one-antiproton magnetic moment measurement. In a fourth research effort he and his collaborators seek to measure the electron's electric dipole moment using cold ThO molecules. Prof. Gabrielse is a member of the US National Academy of Sciences, a fellow of the APS, and chair of the APS DAMOP (2011). Honors include the APS Davisson-Germer Prize (2002), Germany's Humboldt Research Award (2005), and Italy's Tomassoni and Chisesi Prize (2008). Harvard's 2004 Ledlie Prize recognized exceptional research and Harvard's 2000 Levenson Teaching Award recognized exceptional undergraduate teaching. He taught a year of high school physics for fun.